On World Teachers’ Day, the NEU celebrates educators across the UK and globally, and the teacher-student relationship as a common heritage of humanity. We urge governments to commit to strengthening the profession and investing in teacher recruitment, retention, remuneration, training and continuous professional development.
Celebrating 60 Years of the UNESCO/ILO Recommendation
World Teachers’ Day is held annually on 5th October to celebrate teachers around the globe. This year’s theme is Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing its Status, and Shaping Our Futures.
This year's celebration marks the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the 1966 ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers. This landmark recommendation sets benchmarks regarding the rights and responsibilities of teachers, including standards relating to initial training and continuous professional development, professional autonomy, working conditions, salaries, and participation in education policy, social dialogue and collective bargaining
Six decades on, this milestone provides an opportunity to reflect on the new and ongoing challenges facing the profession, from artificial intelligence and digital technologies to climate change. It is also a moment for governments to commit to fully implementing the principles of the 1966 Recommendation and ensure teaching is a respected, attractive, and sustainable profession.
A profession on the brink
In the UK, funding pressures have placed unsustainable expectations on teachers. Teachers are contending with intense workloads, high levels of work-related stress and rising pupil need, while experienced teachers have seen their pay cut by 23 per cent in real terms since 2010. Together, these pressures are contributing to a deepening recruitment and retention crisis.
Just as thousands of additional teachers are required in the UK, millions more teachers are needed globally. An estimated 44 million additional teachers must be recruited by 2030 to meet the Sustainable Development Goals for education. Around the world, the challenges facing the profession remain remarkably consistent: excessive workloads, insufficient salaries, attacks on academic freedom and professional autonomy, and worsening teacher shortages.
Addressing the challenges facing the profession
Rather than being harnessed to strengthen the profession and improve teaching and learning, artificial intelligence is increasingly being leveraged by governments and technology companies for automation and cost-cutting, reducing teacher autonomy, agency and the vital teacher-student relationship.
At the same time, teachers are helping learners navigate the impacts of conflict, inequality, climate change, technological transformation, and democratic challenges. As the demands and expectations placed on teachers continue to grow their autonomy, pay, working conditions and access to continuous professional development are too often declining.
Investing in teachers, investing in the future
Instead of investing in the profession, governments at home and abroad are cutting public education budgets, while pumping billions into defence spending. Governments must urgently recognise that investment in teachers and public education is one of the surest investments any country can make to build peace, strengthen democracy and resilience, and secure a better future for its people and the world.
On World Teachers' Day, the NEU stands in solidarity with educators around the world and calls on governments to uphold the principles of the 1966 Recommendation, strengthen the status of the profession, and provide the investment needed to ensure every child is taught by a qualified, supported and respected teacher.
Find out more about the theme of Worlds Teachers Day and how to take part in celebrations.